I Just love this guy or girl…this looks like a very healthy bear enjoying a bit of contemplation. In this painting, I was attempting to paint in a looser more impressionistic style. I used a 6×6 piece of gesso board which is a very smooth surface. It can be tricky to paint on when you first try it, but I think it lends itself nicely to leaving clear brush strokes. This is part of the look I am going for when I refer to impressionism. I am not trying to paint the bear’s hairs, but rather an overall fur coat.